title: Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acupuncture-related therapies might be an effective intervention for primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of acupuncture-related therapies for treating primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A specified literature search was performed of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, and CBM databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  All clinical controlled trials pertaining to acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea were included, and the quality of the trials was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent reviewers were responsible for data extraction and assessment. The original data of each trial were analyzed with software (Revman 4.2), but a meta-analysis could not be carried out because of the heterogeneity of the trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty randomized controlled trails (RCTs) and two controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were identified. Most of the trials were of low methodologic quality (six trials were Grade B and 26 trials were Grade C). Data analysis indicated that there were conflicting results regarding whether acupuncture-related therapies were more effective than control treatments. However, there was a small, methodologic sound trial of acupuncture which suggested that acupuncture was more effective than control groups (placebo acupuncture: WMD=-0.57 and 95% CI=-0.76-0.38; standard control: WMD=-.19 and 95% CI=-0.37-0.01; visitation control: WMD=-1.04 and 95% CI=-1.28-0.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of low methodologic quality and small sample size, there is no convincing evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. There is an urgent need for randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trials to assess the effects of acupuncture.
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang-Xiao
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jie-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Nan-Nan
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zeng-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult